Margan Hayes: Violin Concerto & other works / Keisuke Okazaki, violin

• Audio Samples
• Album Summary
• Notes & Reviews
• Also Purchased
• Works Details

Audio Samples

Album Summary

Performers

• Jonathan Powell (Piano)
• Keisuke Okazaki (Violin)

Conductor

• Austin, Christopher

Ensemble

• Esbjerg Ensemble

Composer

• Morgan Hayes (1973 - )

Notes & Reviews:

Morgan Hayes' delicate yet manic Violin Concerto forms the center piece to this debut release on NMC. Included are his transcription of Squarepusher's Port Rhombus, commissioned for the South Bank Centre's 2003 Ether Festival, which captures fragility of this experimental drum'n'bass work from 1996; Lucky Speech for solo violin, inspired by a character from Beckett's Waiting for Godot; a collection of piano miniatures Strides Book I & II; and the dramatic solo piano work Puppet Theatre, which refers to the title of the painting by Paul Klee, pictured on the front cover.

Sunday Times
Okazaki offers two solos, both inspired by Lucky in Beckett's Waiting for Godot. Powell is soloist in the densely expressionistic Slippage (1999), for piano and ensemble, and by himself plays four typically pungent works, including two books of the miniatures series Strides. Hayes's version of Squarepusher's Port Rhombus makes a striking overture.

The Guardian
Even without the literary subtext...the Concerto is a beautifully wrought piece, with long, expressive lines punctuated by fierce collisions, and underpinned with a clear tonal scheme.

BBC Music Magazine
Hayes makes witty assemblages out of brilliantly coloured shards and balletic gestures. Wonderful performances; luminous and warm recorded sound.

The Telegraph
The most substantial piece is the Violin Concerto, which is beautifully played by Keisuke Okazaki and the Esbjerg Ensemble. Among the other pieces are some witty piano miniatures played by Jonathan Powell, and a delightful arrangement of Squarepusher's "Port Rhombus".

Gramophone Magazine
If the composer is new to you, Lucky's Speech could be a good introduction...The startle factor is high. Expect spontaneity and, in the piano pieces particularly, an impression that the gestural activity has been borne out of improvisation...NMC has given Hayes an attractive visiting card which makes me curious to follow what he will do next.

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Also Purchased

Works Details

Hayes, Morgan : Port Rhombus, for ensemble

• Conductor: Christopher Austin
• Ensemble: Esbjerg Ensemble
• Notes: Musikhuset, Esbjerg, Denmark (06/22/2009-06/25/2009)
• Running Time: 3 min. 57 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Written: 2003

Hayes, Morgan : Strides, for piano (Book 1)

• Performer: Jonathan Powell (Piano)
• Running Time: 5 min. 16 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Written: 2006

Hayes, Morgan : Lucky's Speech, for violin

• Performer: Keisuke Okazaki (Violin)
• Notes: Musikhuset, Esbjerg, Denmark (06/22/2009-06/25/2009)
• Running Time: 2 min. 5 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Written: 2006

Hayes, Morgan : Concerto for Violin

• Performer: Keisuke Okazaki (Violin)
• Conductor: Christopher Austin
• Ensemble: Esbjerg Ensemble
• Notes: Musikhuset, Esbjerg, Denmark (06/22/2009-06/25/2009)
• Running Time: 17 min. 42 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Form: Concerto
• Written: 2006

Hayes, Morgan : Puppet Theatre, for piano

• Performer: Jonathan Powell (Piano)
• Running Time: 7 min. 38 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Written: 1999

Hayes, Morgan : Lucky's Dream, for violin

• Performer: Keisuke Okazaki (Violin)
• Running Time: 4 min. 7 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Written: 2008

Hayes, Morgan : Distressed Surfaces (3), for piano

• Performer: Jonathan Powell (Piano)
• Running Time: 8 min. 52 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Written: 1998

Hayes, Morgan : Slippage, for piano & ensemble

• Performer: Jonathan Powell (Piano)
• Conductor: Christopher Austin
• Ensemble: Esbjerg Ensemble
• Notes: Musikhuset, Esbjerg, Denmark (06/22/2009-06/25/2009)
• Running Time: 8 min. 5 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Written: 1999

Hayes, Morgan : Strides, for piano (Book 2)

• Performer: Jonathan Powell (Piano)
• Running Time: 7 min. 47 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Written: 2007

Hayes, Morgan : Lute Stop, for piano

• Performer: Jonathan Powell (Piano)
• Running Time: 7 min. 10 sec.
• Period Time: Contemporary
• Written: 2003